When you receive peer review comments for a journal or conference submission, your reply can determine whether your paper gets accepted. Even if critiques seem harsh, responding with professionalism and structure shows editors that you are committed to improving your work.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to crafting responses that are polite, precise, and persuasive.
Always open by thanking the reviewers and editors for their time and effort:
We sincerely thank the reviewers for their constructive comments and valuable suggestions, which have greatly improved the quality of our manuscript.
This sets a cooperative tone and reassures the editor that you take feedback seriously.
Copy each reviewer’s comment (in italics or a different color)
Provide your response immediately below it
Indicate where changes have been made in the revised manuscript (with line numbers or section references)
Example:
Reviewer #2 Comment: The methodology section lacks detail on the statistical analysis.
Response: We have added a detailed explanation of the statistical methods (Section 3.2, Lines 145–162), including the significance thresholds and software version used.
Vague replies like “We have revised the section” are weak. Instead:
Point to the exact section and line numbers
Summarize the change you made
If you disagree with a suggestion, explain why using evidence or literature
Example (disagree politely):
While we appreciate the reviewer’s suggestion to use Method A, we retained Method B because prior studies [Ref. 12, 18] have demonstrated its higher accuracy in low-sample-size contexts.
Academic responses should represent the author team, so use we for a collaborative tone:
We have clarified… rather than I have clarified…
If the review is lengthy, create a “Response to Reviewer” table with columns for:
Reviewer Comment
Author Response
Location of Revision
This makes it easier for editors to verify changes quickly.
Never criticize a reviewer’s misunderstanding—frame it as your own need to clarify:
We realize that the explanation in the original text may have caused confusion. We have now revised…
This turns a potential conflict into a demonstration of your willingness to improve.
Proofread for grammar and tone
Ensure all changes mentioned actually appear in the manuscript
Make the response letter visually clear and easy to follow
A polished, respectful, and well-organized reply letter not only addresses reviewers’ concerns but also signals your professional maturity as a researcher. Think of reviewer comments as a free expert consultation—an opportunity to refine your work before final publication.
For those submitting to international conferences or journals, resources like iconf.org can help you find reputable academic platforms where transparent and constructive peer review is valued.